St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-02-12


cotton has given way to the era "
diu1x;fco'iOn. No product ia king.
but sugar. cotton, rice. tobacco.
oats. corn. etc, are powerful lac
tors in our agricultural wealth.
Fifty years have wrought changes
in this country Of such nature A.
to completely revolutionizs our
farming operations The situation
calls for wider education on the
part Of the farmer. The comps.i-
ton is 30 close that he must study
he science Of agriculture. the use Of
implements in the preparation Of
his soil, the valne and Influence OF
fertilizers in the production Of his
crops. Then. again. there is an um
bounded field for study aud obser-
walton in the raising Of different
kinds of stock. To meet these
great changes. which circumstances
have thrust upon the farmer. there
il positive .lsnand for = practical
education. On every hand the far
mer is surrounded by objects Of in
terost. The forests are ciOthe Il will,
foliage. the Lillsides and meadows
are carpeted with green grass.
Earth. air aud water are animated
with living Great Tres. Natures
laws. many OF them simple Of COM
prehension some OF them hardly
interpreted by our wisest men-are
in full operation around the farmer
Go whore be may, there is some
law Of Nature which. If lie under.
stands correctly. will be Of service
to him. besides sffording him the
pleasure Of . closer friendship with
Nature herself. By study aud in
telligent observation he is ehter-
tanned. and little by little learns the
habits, parts aud uses Of plants
growing around him. Thus he
learns; aud when he goes into the
field the growing grain peeps up
through the soil to greet linn, the
grass waves in token of his labor,
and the golden ears Of corn pay
their tribute to his skill. Such are
Natures noblemen; for iu recogni.
ton o! such knowledge The earth
yields bountiful Lxrvests aud un-
measured pleasure. This study af-
fords knowledge Of how PLANTS
grow. and consequently what makes
them grow. This incidentally leads
to the study of fertilizers. the inf,u-
ence Of tillage. and everything that
makes the plant grow. When our
farmers sons are taught 10 amply
business principles to the farm. re-
lieved Of unnecessary drudgery and
toll. thea shall it be said his SOM
aud daughters have the hapriest
homes in tho land. and they them
selves are tho tr uest. noblest types
Of the prosperous American farmer.
TO dig and de;ve without intelIi-
gent aim il not agriculture. Nature,
in her lavish kindness. may supply
the ignorant deliver with . bare
subsistence. in payment for the toll
Of his hands. bnt he is ou!y exist
ing. after all. ard not living, in the
true sense Of the word. Only the
intelligent. thinking farmer, who
uses bis brains. as well as his hands,
the true value and OBJ
ject Of Ills toll. aud sees something
more in his life work than continual
lrudgery AMI . mere struggle fo,
existence. Farmers. M a class, are
men. aud slow TO leave
old ruts: but l hm glad to observe
that the more general tlisssmina-
ton Of agricultural literature has
done much to break mp this old
time conservatism. Let their edu-
cation point ont to them that in the
calling of the farmer there is a rnnge
Of problems that is fitted to call
out all tho grandest powers ard ef-
forts Of the human mind; and ]
cla,n that he who. by patient AMI
intelligent study .ni experiment.
has given to the world a new aud
cereal. or an improved and
more excellent tuber. has benefited
his race. Tho earth yields her
fruit after its kind and in obedience
10 fixed laws. and the study aud ap-
plication of these laws, or rather
The understanding OF the conditions
which shall bring oar work into
harmony With these laws. il suffic;-
snt to occupy the rrandest intel
ect. and employ all The powers and
faculties Of the mightiest miud.
Roanockfn11v W. Rrr, ,rr